Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 461: To The Future

Chapter 461: To The Future

ACCIDENTALLY POSTED PREVIOUS Chapter TWICE. SKIP TO NEXT Chapter.

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They were walking and walking. Kazi put on a smile and had an arm in his samurai hakama, the sleeve bellowing.

Samantha was beside him. Matsue Castle was not too isolated from the rest of the capital. In some distant future, there would be a moat, a forest, and a winding path. That was not the case in today’s Matsue. Today, it was close to the people of Matsue.

"It’s the hero! Wow!"

"Isn’t he supposed to have yellow hair?"

"Ooh, he’s very attractive...!"

Questions, answers, whispers, and everything in between. Kazi waved and smiled at the passers and children. All were in awe and oozed respect. Samantha greeted them and waved at them the same way. They...did not care. At all.

"You’ve cozied up to Lord Tadaharu," Kazi stated ever so politely.

An equally polite smile matched him. "I have."

"I hear you wish to post one of your players as his bodyguard."

There was a small pause. Samantha ended up giggling. "I’m surprised that word travelled so fast."

It didn’t. The suggestion for one of her guild members to protect the young lord was made yesterday and confirmed today. Kazi had already figured out what she wanted to do from the beginning. Kazi hummed.

"Matsue is a large territory," Kazi said. "You negotiated a fair tax on the fishing industry, correct?" This was a place of fishermen, so duh, it made sense. Technically. "I’d suggest against that."

"Why is that, my friend?"

"Taxes are annoying for anyone and everyone. The fish market here is large and trying to recover after the attack. If you want to tax something, don’t tax the one thing that is equally high in demand and supply as it is in bringing happiness."

As though she possessed authority, Samantha proclaimed, "The will struggle to make end’s meet if we do not rely on this tax."

"Alcohol and fish." He raised two fingers, two points. "In trying times, on a fishing island like this, they are too important to tax. Tax them and the people will be agitated. It is best to focus on other commodities."

"What would you say then?"

"I say invest in mining. Tax certain metals like silver and iron and hire plenty of the men here to work under you directly. Then, when you sell, you will both be profiting from the business and the taxes."

"Oh~" Samantha suddenly hurried up. She went beside him and was about to loop her arm around his.

Kazi disappeared and reappeared, seated at a noodle shop. He waved her over with a grin. "You seem eager to talk. In here."

Internalizing the irritation that he slipped away, Samantha followed and took a seat. The noodle stall was positively brimming with thrills to serve the "exotic hero of Shinji". The noodles were made fast and Kazi went to slurping them. Samantha...was not as enthusiastic about it, forcing a smile. However, she did eat.

"Are you on a diet?"

"Mhm."

"Magic pills at night and day to increase your mana, eh?"

"You saw?"

"I heard. Your guild talks more than you think, Samantha."

She swore in her head, although outwardly, the pretty blonde laughed. She tucked a piece of hair over her ear as she put a mouthful of noodles in her mouth. She was both relieved that it tasted good and annoyed that it was not magical in essence. She was wasting a meal, normal good-tasting food for magic-based meat that would benefit her long-term.

"Ever since Skullmask returned, we’ve been quite chirpy," Samantha managed to say with a laugh. "It’s quite nice."

"Skullmask made back okay? That’s great. He’s funny, I like him."

"Mhm." She side-eyed him and kept the same smile. "Kazi, you are...quite the specimen, aren’t you? A hero, an expert in tax, a detective, a military strategist." In spite of her grievances, she lit up that one-hundred-watt smile like it was nothing. "What did you do in your old life?"

"Haha, I did business."

"Ooh, no wonder! My guild could use someone like you. Have you ever thought about joining? Oh, but no pressure."

Right, no pressure. "I appreciate the offer but I have my group."

"You don’t think your people and my people would angle along."

"I’m the type that takes in strays. They can be a bit slow. I’m not sure if you and your guild would like that."

Samantha wouldn’t. She stopped pressed. "You never know until you try," she said for the sake of appearances. "The Children of Athena lend out a hand to anyone and everyone."

"I’m glad to hear it. You’re a smart young woman, Samantha. I’m happy I get to work with you now."

The blonde beamed at him. "You are too kind, Kazi. I feel the same way."

"That’s great."

Smiles all around. A bit fake, a bit deceitful, but certainly not without some sincerity. In some ways, he and Samantha were the same. Kazi set his bowl down, finished with his noodles in record time. He decided to push that smile and fakeness.

"You and I know once the gates open, this place will be overrun by the Templars or the Eternal Emperor or whoever else. All the Objectives will be seized by them. All the territories will be taken. If we want to become strong, if we want to be more than a footnote, we need to act—now."

Samantha was quiet. It seemed she struggled between confiding in him or politely agreeing. The type that meant nothing. "I agree," she said after three seconds. "It is our right as players to take control of these lands."

’Our right as players? I didn’t say we were going that far but...’

He needed her. Someone like Samantha was smooth with their lips and appealing with her looks, she was vital in unlocking real influence here. She would not be easy to control, however, precisely because she was next to impossible to control. In life, there were always those that were too ambitious for their own good. Samantha’s bright blue eyes were too bright. She was one of those people: she had endless ambition.

"Let us write up a contract."

Kazi had to meet that ambition.

"A contract? How about we talk for a bit more, hm?"

See? Attempting to take information verbally without any sort of compensation, that was the kind of lady Samantha was.

"Kazi! Sorry to cut off your conversation but...here you are! A special bowl made by yours truly!" said the noodle shop owner, grinning.

"Heh, thank you Mr. Haruto."

This whole time, Samantha didn’t notice because of the System’s natural translation, but they had been speaking in Bengali. Kazi was able to switch between languages and consider how to talk politely without issue.

What caught Samantha’s attention was not the bowl of ramen that was handed to him for free; it was the intent behind it. Kazi Hossain was a hero here. Heroes earned respect, not ire. The gears were turning in her head. There was a reason he came to this noodle shop specifically. He wanted to show her his value.

For certain, if the young Lord announced the new taxes, the people would accept it. Would they like it? No, never. Whether it was something as small as metal or upheaving as fish, people never liked taxes. But if somebody like Kazi was announcing, then...

Optics. Magic. Strength. Kazi had everything. He could make the process of ruling over this land smoother, even if she would lose some profit in the long and short-term. Lord Tadaharu was young, in the high point of adolescence, and his grandfather was too old. If the history books were anything to go by, he would die in a year—in 1611. Kazi doubted Samantha was even aware of that.

’I’m certain she plans to poison Lord Mosuke.’

Well, she wouldn’t have to and he wouldn’t let her. He planned to help this place so that by the time the Saint Lord passed on, it would be a good place to live.

"Kazi," Samantha called out, a hand tucker under her face and smiling. "You said you did business before. What exactly did you do again?"

"I ran a textile company. Maybe you’ve heard of it, it was called AE Company."

"Oh, yes, I believe I have."

She hadn’t.

"You should invite all the wealthy merchants to a party," Kazi said, "and make prices according to what they can afford."

"The merchants, hm?" Samantha didn’t feel like doing that. Yeah, she just wanted to impose her taxes and get away with it.

Amateur.

"You need allies. Even a Lord can be usurped if the powerful and the common people are agitated together. Scope out your allies. Through them, figure out what is and isn’t acceptable. Metal is not everywhere here but it is still important. The spears, the lamps, carriages, those all require metal. We can’t throw down a huge tax and be done with it. Communicate, Samantha. You are phenomenal at that."

From inside his hakama, he unveiled a grey parchment with blood red text. His name and contract stipulations were already written.

"You and I, together, are promised to make this land prosperous. Once this land heals, we will be enriched. That is what I believe." He slipped the parchment toward her. "What do you believe in?"

Samantha read the parchment without touching it. Smiling, eyes flicking as she read it in plain English. "A fifty percent cut between us?"

"I told you—I have operated large-scale businesses before. You need my expertise. You run into any problems and the one who takes the burn is the young lord. The thing with youth is that they can be unpredictable. We have a festival planned tonight, don’t we?"

"..."

"You’re fine with the festival but you are NOT fine with Lord Tadaharu paying for all the expensive. To make the food and ceremonies and dances free for everyone, regardless of class. You wanted profit. He wanted heart. You need me just as much as I need you."

"I do wish to begin my advisory role with a better start," Samantha admitted.

Kazi placed a quill. Samantha’s smile widened and she took it. She put down her signature.

"To the future of Matsue," said Samantha.

"To the future."